CANOSA presenta Odissi by Devraj & Elora Patnaik on the occasion of Bishuba Milana 2012

Devraj Patnaik is a multi-talented prodigy who bestrides the Odissi world. His abilities as a dancer, dance choreographer, music composer, and percussionist combined with his innate creative drive have made him imminently qualified for his favourite endeavour: the creation of new works. His native talent for dance has been nurtured by the tutelage of Kalashri Chitralekha Patnaik, Guru Sri Gangadhar Pradhan, late Padmabibhusan Kelucharan Mohapatra, late Padmashri Pankaj Charan Das, and Kumari Ellora Patnaik. His skill in percussion extends to both the pakhawaj and the tabla. He has received training in pakhawaj
from Guru Sri Banamali Maharana and Guru Sri Gangadhar Pradhan; and training in tabla from Badya Samrat Shri Umesh Chandra Kar.
He has taught Odissi dance since 1986, performed professionally since 1988, and taught tabla since 1991. As a choreographer Devraj has dedicated himself chiefly to Odissi,
but in music composition his ability spans the field of Indian Classical. In 1994 he co-founded Chitralekha Odissi Dance Creations with his mother and elder sister. His directorial debut, Konark Lasya Lila was presented in 1996. His next three productions, Tandava/Lasya, Shringaar, and Panchadeva were presented in 1998, 1999, and 2001 respectively. Since 2002 Devraj has been consumed, quite literally, with the creation of the Mahabharata Quadrilogy from the Kurukshetra Chronicles, from the music composition and dance choreography to the performance of the title roles in the first three instalments: Bhishma (2003), Drona (2004), and Karna (2005), and Arjuna (2006). He has also managed to create and present three additional works: Pallavi Science (2003), commissioned by the CanAsian Dance Festival; the landmark Odissi abhinaya, Shiva Naba Rasa (2005), and Jai Sri Rama (2006).

Ellora's directorial debut (in which she also danced the lead role) the Odissi Dance Drama Glaanisanghaar was presented in 1995. She has danced lead roles, and made crucial directorial contributions, in every CODC production since that time, including her own second directorial success, Nrutya Utsav (1997). To her credit as an actor, she has starred three films: Daiba Daudi (1989), My Own Country (1997), and Tapish (1999). In 1999 she received the Kalashri Award from the Orissa Society of the Americas in recognition of her cultural ambassadorship and efforts to promote Oriya Culture in North America through Odissi Dance. In 2001 she danced the title role in CODC's Jai Sri Ganesh. In 2003 she performed at both the CanAsian Dance Festival and the Vancouver International Dance Festival. In 2005, she delivered a landmark performance; a 31-mintue solo rendition of a Naba Rasa in honour of Lord Shiva, created by Guru Sri Devraj Patnaik. She also starred as Krishna in the three extant instalments of Guru Sri Devraj Patnaik's Mahabharata Quadrilogy: Bhishma (2003), Drona (2004), Karna (2005), and Arjuna (2006). Most recently, she starred in Devi (2007).

свернуть